Tom Cruise has numerous accolades to his name but the latest honour is rather unexpected, even the Hollywood heavyweight can’t help but smile. He was praised by the United States Navy for his work in Top Gun, which has had a very real impact on ‘the force’s recruitment of pilots’.
Image Credit: Metro [Actor Tom Cruise after being presented with the US Navy Distinguished Public Service Award by US Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, during a ceremony at Long Cross Studios in Chertsey, Surrey. The award is presented by the navy to civilians who have carried out acts of valour or heroism, or who have demonstrated extraordinary service on behalf of the Navy over a lengthy interval. It is the most prestigious US Naval award given to civilians. Picture date: Tuesday December 17, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Cruise. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire]
Beginning in 1986, the franchise — including 2022’s Top Gun: Maverick —follows young pilots training in the Navy’s Fighter Weapons School. Tom was presented with the Distinguished Public Service Award on Tuesday for his role as Lieutenant Pete ‘Maverick’ Mitchell in the popular franchise.
Image Credit: Metro [No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover Usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Paramount/Everett/Shutterstock (14208050tx) TOP GUN: MAVERICK, (aka TOP GUN 2), Tom Cruise, 2022. ph: Scott Garfield / ? Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection Everett Collection - 2022]
The award, presented by US Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, is reserved for civilians for acts of heroism or support of the Navy. Tom was absolutely beaming as he accepted the award at Longcross Film Studios in Chertsey, Surrey. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
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Image Credit: Metro [Tom Cruise smiles as he receives a Navy Distinguished Public Service Award from The United States Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro presents at the Longcross South Studios, in Runnymede, Surrey, England, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)]
Up Next. Famously, the 62-year-old actor performs all his own action stunts and is a licensed aircraft pilot. He returned to his role as Maverick after 36 years away for the highly-anticipated single, which earned $1.49billion (£1.17billion) at the box office.
Image Credit: Metro [Editorial use only. No book cover usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Paramount/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock (5886113am) Rick Rossovich, Val Kilmer, Whip Hubley, Tom Cruise Top Gun - 1986 Director: Tony Scott Paramount USA Scene Still Top Gun]
Del Toro said it ‘brought nostalgia to older audiences and reinvigorated the minds of newer audience members’. Stopping off in Chetsey as he travelled to Bahrain to visit forces, the Navy Secretary gave Tom the award in recognition of Top Gun having ‘significantly increased’ the force’s recruitment numbers.
Image Credit: Metro [Actor Tom Cruise is presented with the US Navy Distinguished Public Service Award by US Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, during a ceremony at Long Cross Studios in Chertsey, Surrey. The award is presented by the navy to civilians who have carried out acts of valour or heroism, or who have demonstrated extraordinary service on behalf of the Navy over a lengthy interval. It is the most prestigious US Naval award given to civilians. Picture date: Tuesday December 17, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Cruise. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire]
![[Actor Tom Cruise after being presented with the US Navy Distinguished Public Service Award by US Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, during a ceremony at Long Cross Studios in Chertsey, Surrey. The award is presented by the navy to civilians who have carried out acts of valour or heroism, or who have demonstrated extraordinary service on behalf of the Navy over a lengthy interval. It is the most prestigious US Naval award given to civilians. Picture date: Tuesday December 17, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Cruise. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_233532369-2ca3.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
![[No Merchandising. Editorial Use Only. No Book Cover Usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Paramount/Everett/Shutterstock (14208050tx) TOP GUN: MAVERICK, (aka TOP GUN 2), Tom Cruise, 2022. ph: Scott Garfield / ? Paramount Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection Everett Collection - 2022]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_230524196-5a73-e1734473545394.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
![[Tom Cruise smiles as he receives a Navy Distinguished Public Service Award from The United States Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro presents at the Longcross South Studios, in Runnymede, Surrey, England, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_233542156-721a.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
![[Editorial use only. No book cover usage. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Paramount/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock (5886113am) Rick Rossovich, Val Kilmer, Whip Hubley, Tom Cruise Top Gun - 1986 Director: Tony Scott Paramount USA Scene Still Top Gun]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_199362618-f10a.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
![[Actor Tom Cruise is presented with the US Navy Distinguished Public Service Award by US Secretary of the Navy, Carlos Del Toro, during a ceremony at Long Cross Studios in Chertsey, Surrey. The award is presented by the navy to civilians who have carried out acts of valour or heroism, or who have demonstrated extraordinary service on behalf of the Navy over a lengthy interval. It is the most prestigious US Naval award given to civilians. Picture date: Tuesday December 17, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story SHOWBIZ Cruise. Photo credit should read: Ian West/PA Wire]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/SEI_233532952_1734470455.504-0945.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
